Aethalometer® AE36: Next Generation of Black Carbon Monitoring

Intelligent, Self-Cleaning Black Carbon Analysis for High-Reliability Networks

The Aethalometer® AE36 sets a new benchmark in aerosol science by combining the industry-standard optical precision of Magee Scientific with unprecedented operational autonomy. Engineered for air quality networks that demand valid data with minimal physical intervention, the AE36 features a revolutionary self-cleaning optical chamber and extended-capacity consumables, allowing for up to one year of unattended operation.

Building on the proven DualSpot™ technology, the AE36 not only measures Black Carbon (BC) mass concentration but actively manages its own health. With integrated Automatic Data Validation and the new BC Index visualization, it transforms raw spectral data into actionable air quality insights in real-time. This is the ideal solution for measuring compliance against WHO 2021 air quality guidelines, offering the lowest total cost of ownership for national and urban monitoring grids.

Key Benefits

• Supreme Autonomy (1-Year Operation):

  Designed to minimize site visits, the AE36 utilizes a high-capacity 20-meter filter tape and an automated self-cleaning cycle that purges internal tubing and optical components. This reduces maintenance frequency to typically once per year, significantly lowering operational costs for remote or difficult-to-access stations.

• Automatic Data Validation:

  Eliminate the bottleneck of manual post-processing. The AE36 employs advanced status controls to validate data points automatically as they are recorded. This ensures that the data streaming to your central network is already QA/QC screened, reducing human error and accelerating reporting timelines.

• Real-Time "BC Index" Visualization:

  Beyond raw μg/m³ outputs, the AE36 calculates and displays a "BC Index"—a proprietary metric that translates black carbon levels into a clear air quality assessment. This feature is adjustable to local pollution ranges, making it a powerful tool for public communication and smart city integration.

• Robustness Against Humidity:

  Engineered with enhanced internal thermal regulation and relative humidity (RH) sensors (inlet, tape compartment, and door), the AE36 maintains measurement stability even in environments with rapidly fluctuating humidity, preventing condensation artifacts that plague lesser instruments.

Technical Overview

The AE36 operates as a multi-wavelength filter-based optical absorption photometer, analyzing aerosol absorption across the spectrum from near-ultraviolet (370 nm) to near-infrared (950 nm).

Patented DualSpot™ Compensation:

Like its predecessor, the AE36 solves the "filter loading effect" inherent in optical measurements. By sampling simultaneously on two filter spots at different flow rates, the system mathematically corrects for non-linearity in real-time, ensuring data continuity even as the tape advances.

Advanced Diagnostics & Connectivity:

• User Interface: A large 10.1” HD touchscreen provides intuitive navigation and detailed charting of source apportionment (Biomass vs. Fossil Fuel).

• Sensitivity: Improved detection limits (<0.001 μg/m³ @ 1-hour average) allow for precise background measurements in pristine environments.

• Self-Health Monitoring: The instrument continuously monitors flow stability, leakage, and optical performance, alerting operators immediately if parameters drift.

Typical Use Cases

• National Air Quality Networks:

  Ideal for regulatory compliance monitoring where data continuity and low maintenance overhead are critical.

• Remote Background Stations:

  The extended autonomy makes the AE36 the perfect choice for high-altitude or isolated research stations where site access is limited.

• Smart Cities & Public Health:

  Utilizing the BC Index and source apportionment to inform traffic management policies and public health warnings regarding wood burning events.

• Climate Research:

  Long-term tracking of Brown Carbon (BrC) and Black Carbon (BC) radiative forcing agents with high spectral resolution.

Why Choose This Analyzer?

The Aethalometer® AE36 addresses the single biggest pain point in environmental monitoring: maintenance downtime. While other analyzers require frequent tape changes, cleaning, and manual data validation, the AE36 automates these processes. It effectively essentially puts a "lab technician in the box," ensuring that the data you retrieve is not only precise but already validated and ready for policy-level analysis. It is the only commercially available instrument explicitly aligned with the operational needs of modern, data-driven air quality networks following the latest WHO recommendations.

Specifications

• Measured Components:

  Black Carbon (BC), UV-Absorbing Particulate Matter (Brown Carbon), Source Apportionment (Fossil Fuel vs. Biomass), BC Index.

• Applications:

  Smart city pollution tracking, long-term environmental monitoring networks, remote background research, health exposure studies.

• Certifications:

  Traceable to fundamental optical standards (NIST-traceable ND filters); Compliant with CEN/TS 17434; Designed to support WHO 2021 Black Carbon monitoring recommendations.

• Measurement Principle:

  Multi-wavelength Filter-based Optical Absorption Photometer with patented DualSpot™ loading compensation and real-time Source Apportionment (7 wavelengths: 370 nm – 950 nm).